Dylan rubbed his neck where the knife had pierced his skin. His expression was supercool as always – despite having just escaped from being skewered alive. But that was typical Dylan. He didn’t smile much… but when he did, his face lit up with a captivating grin – and you knew he meant it. Sarah had loved that smile; it had been Dylan’s way of telling her how much he adored her. But that was a long time ago…
His gorgeous eyes enveloped her. “Sarah, I never thought we’d be reunited like this! It’s awesome to see you, seriously.”
“Awesome to see me? Dylan – what the hell is going on?”
He inspected her. “How long’s it been? Six… seven years? You still look so beautiful.”
Before Sarah was able to stop him, Dylan stepped forward and slipped his arms around her, pulling her close. She tensed her muscles like a terrified cat, but as he hugged her tight, she relaxed and sank into him, like sliding into a warm bathtub after a very long wintry walk. She rested her head on his shoulder and gave herself to him, as if the last seven years hadn’t happened. She’d forgotten how much she loved being in these arms. He was like the sunshine after the rain. And at this moment – just for a few seconds – she loved him again. Had she ever stopped? She sensed that he cared for her, too, but there was an underlying tension that contradicted his soothing arms. They’d had their chance but now it was too late…
Sarah pulled away, and his stubble prickled against her face as they parted. She reached out and stroked his cheek, relishing the sandpaper roughness on her fingertips. “I should get back to work…”
He wrapped his strong fingers around hers. “You look no different to the day you broke my heart.”
She rankled, hardening herself. “You told me to leave.”
“It was for your own good, sweetheart.”
Sarah’s heart surged with regret. “If you love someone, set them free.”
“And I did. I really did.”
“Set me free?”
Dylan opened his mouth to reply, but a sound from behind dragged them back to the present. Oh yes – the woman in the bathroom. Sarah turned and saw a glamorous woman rush over in the most impractical shoes and tight dress she’d ever seen. The woman looked terrified, but even in such weird circumstances, Sarah couldn’t help but feel envy at the sight of Dylan’s latest squeeze. She recognised this woman from the covers of the celebrity magazines – Natalia Orlov. She was married to a ruthless young Russian tycoon – Vladimir Orlov – and she was always at his side. They attracted a lot of media attention because they were both stunningly good-looking, and Vladimir was charismatic. Sarah felt plain next to Natalia, with her false eyelashes, blonde hair extensions, and beauty-parlour make-up. She looked as if she was probably in her mid-twenties, just slightly younger than Sarah, but somehow she seemed sophisticated – as if she’d led a privileged life. Sarah was accustomed to mixing with high-calibre people because most of the guests who stayed here were wealthy and powerful – so it wasn’t this woman’s background that stirred Sarah’s envy. It was the thought of Dylan being with her sexually. Apparently – even after seven years – she hadn’t gotten over him…
Natalia spoke with a warm Russian accent. “Dylan, you killed him?”
“You were in the bathroom all along?” Sarah asked. “Why the hell didn’t you help?”
Natalia gazed at Sarah, noticing her for the first time. “Oh…?”
“Sarah,” Dylan said, “this is Natalia.”
Natalia raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at Dylan. “You two know each other?”
Dylan opened his mouth to explain, but the concussed assassin groaned on the carpet.
Natalia gazed at him. “He’s alive...”
“Perhaps you’d like to tell me what’s going on?” Sarah said, looking down her nose at Natalia. “I happen to be the general manager of this establishment.”
“Yes,” Natalia said. “This man is called Mikhail. He works for my husband. If he would’ve seen me here with Dylan, he would’ve killed us both.”
Mikhail’s body slowly started to flood back to consciousness. Panic rushed into Sarah’s muscles. “Well, he still might see you.”
Natalia appealed to Sarah with her huge blue eyes. “Help us?”
“Why should I?”
Dylan grabbed Sarah’s shoulders and smothered her with his captivating gaze. “Please, Sarah. You’re our last hope.”
A lightning storm of desire prickled through Sarah’s body at his touch. She willed herself to be strong against him, but she knew what those hands were capable of. Her arousal overrode her rational mind.